Atomising discharge valves



June 7, 1966 R. F. E. BocH ETAL 3,254,807

ATOMISING DISCHARGE VALVES Filed Feb. 24, 1964 Rober/NTE /3oa.f1/ logcs,4 l'os Inventor orney United States Patent O 3,254,807 ATOMISINGDISCHARGE VALVES Robert Francisque Eugene Boch, Sao Paulo, and EuclydesAntonio Rios, Santo Andre, Brazil, assignors, by mesne assignments, toLa Companhia Quimica Rhodia Brasileira, Santo Andre, Brazil, acorporation of Brazil Filed Feb. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 346,632 Claimspriority, application Brazil, Mar. 6, 1963, 147,427 4 Claims. (Cl.222-394) This invention concerns atomising discharge values forcontainers -of pressurised liquids and has for one object to said cap, avalve seat located in an axially fixed position within said 4bore ofsaid cap and defining with the latter ra chamber communicating with saiddischarge nozzle, such seat having a bore which emerges into saidchamber and is adapted, in use of the valve, to be placedincommunication with the liquid in the container, a resilient valve memberformed separately from the cap and mounted in the latter at the upperpart of said chamber and aligned with said valve seat, a lever pivotedto said cap externally thereof, and a boss on said lever which passesthrough said aperture in said cap and bears on said valve member, saidlever being biassed so that said boss normally applies pressure to saidvalve member to distort the latter against the valve seat and close thebore therein, but capable of being pivoted against such biasing torelease said pressure on said valve member.

The valves of this invention, having a separate resilient pad to formthe valve head, makes for -an extremely simple manufacture and alsoimproves the operation of the valve in that only a slight displacementof the lever is necessary to unseat the pad from the valve seat and thusrelease some of the contents of a container to which the valve isapplied.

In order that this invention may be understood more readily thefollowing description is given, by way of example, of one embodiment ofthe invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a longitudinal section through the upper part of an aerosolproducing liquid container incorporating a valve according to theinvention; and

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation on a different scale of the upper part ofthe container and illustrating the operation of the valve.

As seen in FIGURE 1, the valve comprises a cap 1 sealed into the top ofa container which is conveniently a conventional cylindrical containeras shown but may be of any suitable desired shape, such cap including inits upper portion an aperture. On one side, the cap 1 is provided with adischarge passage 10. On the other side ofthe cap and mounted betweentwo supporting lugs is a pin 7 on which is pivoted an angled lever 5.The lever is normally urged in a counter-clockwise sense, as seen inFIGURE 1, by a spring 6, so that a boss 4 on the lower side of the upperarm of the lever is urged downwardly through the aperture in the upperportion of the cap.

The cap 1 is also provided with a Ibore into which is fitted adisc-shaped resilient pad 3. This pad is held in place against theunderside of the upperportion of the cap 1 by raised shoulders at thetop of a plug 2 which is l 3,254,807 Patented June 7, 1966 ICC tightlyfitted into the bore in the cap. At its upper part the diameter of theplug 2 is reduced to form an annular cham-ber in communication with thepassage lil and from the annular chamber fluid distributor ducts extendradially inwardly to a raised central valve vseat slightly below thelevel of the said shoulders. Thus fluid can be fed from the valve seatto the discharge passage 10 whatever the orientation of the plug 2. Theplug 2 has, at its lower end, a downwardly extending central spigothaving a central bore in which is fitted a dip tube 9. To provide fluidcommunication between the dip tube and the centre of the valve seat, themain portion of the plug 2 has a central bore havingl a restricted neckportion.

The action of the spring 6 ou the lever S is to urge the boss 4downwardly onto the pad 3 and force the latter into fluid tightengagement on the valve seat. The side arm of the angled lever 5 isribbed to facilitate pressing of the lever with the finger.

Fitted into cap 1 is an independent hollow plug assembly which comprisesan atomising diaphragm 11, an apertured delivery regulating diaphragm-12 and an assembly plug 13. These elements may each form a separatepart which is manufactured separately, or a plurality of them may :becombined in a single part. Thus the assembly consisting of the threeelements may be obtained by blowing a 4bulb of plastics material havingsuitably calibrated orifices and a suitably calibrated engaging skirt.Alternatively, as shown in the drawings, the delivery regulator is ametal diaphragm 12 inserted in the plug 13, the rigidity of which itensures at the level of the anchoring zone.

According to the latter form of realization, the plug 13 is made ofinjection-moulded synthetic materiaLthe atomising orifice 11 is not openlbut only outlined in the form of a blind hole of a form suitable forthe jet desired and carrying, if so desired, the well-known helicalgrooves. This blind hole terminates in a protuberance 13b of the plug. Agroove 13a determines a weakening zone and enables the atomising orificeto be opened at the appropriate level either by breaking off or lbycutting off the protuberance. An arrangement such as this ensures theinviolability of the container, which remains hermetically sealed aslong as the protuberance 13b has not been detached.

This method of fixing the plug 13 is unimportant; it may simply be ttedin, screwed in, welded, cemented, set or anchored by pins or a bayonetdevice. According to a preferred constructional form, the fixing isobtained by anchoring which gives an inviolable assembly withoutrequiring any special tools.

As has been said above, the device according to the invention permitsthe filling of containers already equipped with their valve. injectiontube of the metering pump to the lateral orifice 10 of the cap 1; thefluid lifts the sealing element from its seat and penetrates into thecontainer, which has previously been freed of air in accordance with theusual technique.

The spring 6 which ensures the fluid-tightness of the valve can Abeplaced in position after filling and the drawing shows a type of springparticularly simple to insert in a valve which has already beenassembled. It should be observed, however, that the presence of a springin no way prohibits the filling. In fact, the pressure exerted by themetering pump below the sealing diaphragm is applied to a surface muchlarger than the area of the orifice of the valve and the result is athrust on the lever much greater than that which must normally balancethe spring. Under these conditions, the valve recloses automaticallyafter filling Iand the ycontainer can be subjected directly to the usualtests, such as warm water bath, before the plug 13 is placed inposition.

To this end, it is sufficient to fit the.

In order to operate the valve, once the atomising oriice 11 is opened,pressure is exerted on the side arm of the lever thereby compressing thespring 6. Thus the fboss 4 is raised and the resilient pad 3 is unseatedfrom the seat at the top of plug 2 by the pressure of the pressurisedliquid in the container. The liquid then passes through the radial ductsinto the annular cham-ber through discharge passage and emerges throughthe atomising orilice 11 as a ne spray.

To close the valve, the side arm of the lever is released and the spring6 urges the lever in a counter-clockwise direction, as seen in FIGURE l,and the boss d passes the pad 3 back into sealing engagement with thevalve seat.

We claim:

1. An atomising discharge valve comprising: (a) a cap having a boretherein, (b) a discharge plug assembly projecting laterally outwardlyfrom the side of said cap and communicating with the upper end of saidbore in the cap said Iassembly inclu-ding a hollow body, two oppositeends to said body, a discharge nozzle at one said end of said body and adelivery regulating apertured diaphragm at the other said end, saidother end being securable to said cap, (c) a wall integral with said capand forming the top of the latter, (d) said wall having an axialaperture therein, (e) a plug fitted xedly in the lower end of said borein the cap so as to be spaced below said top-forming wall of the cap,(f) said plug having a vertical central bore extending completelytherethrough', (g) a valve seat on said plug at the upper end thereofand having a bore communicating with the bore in said plug, (h) aresilient valve member of disklike conguration formed separately fromsaid cap and plug and disposed between sai-d top forming wall of the capand the said valve seat, (i) said valve member being of greaterdimensions than both the bore in the valve seat and said aperture in-the top-forming wall of the cap and engaging said top-forming Wall ofthe cap to close said aperture therein, (j) a lever pivoted to said capexternally thereof at a position remote from said valve member, (k) anend on said lever and (l) the lever being biassed with said end normallyprojecting through the aperture in the top-forming wall of the cap andapplying pressure t-o the valve member to press the valve member againstthe valve seat to close the bore therein, but being capable of beingpivoted against such biassing to move said end out of contact with thevalve member to release the pressure on the valve member.

2. A container for liquid under pressure, such container having mountedat the top thereof an atomising discharge valve comprising: (a) a caphaving a bore there-on, (b) a discharge plug assembly on said cap and incommunication with said bore, said assembly including a hollow body, twoopposite ends to said body, a discharge nozzle at one said end of saidbody and a delivery regulating apertured diaphragm at the other saidend, said other end being securable to said cap, (c) a wall integralwith -said cap and forming the top of the latter, (d) said top-formingwall of the cap having an yaperture therein, (e) a plug ixedly in thelower part of said bore in said cap, (f) said plug having, a throughbore which at one end enlarges into a recess, (g) a tube iitted intosaid recess and extending downwardly into said container, (h) a dishedvalve seat in said plug and a bore in said valve seat communicating withsaid through bore in said plug, (i) said seat defining with said cap achamber communicating with said discharge nozzle, (j) a resilient valvemember of disk-like configuration formed separately from said cap andplug and of dimensions greater than bot-h the bore in the valve seat andthe aperture in said top-forming wall of the cap, (k) said valve memberbeing disposed in said chamber and closing the aperture in said wall,(l) a lever pivoted to said cap externally thereof at a position remotefrom said valve member, (m) an end on said lever and (n) the lever beingbiassed so that said end normally projects through the aperture in thetop-forming wall of the cap applying pressure to the valve member topress the valve member against said dished valve seat to close the boretherein, but being capable of being pivoted against such biassing tomove said end out of contact with saidI valve member to release thepressure on the latter.

3. An atomising discharge valve comprising: (a) a cap having a Verticalbore therein, (b) `a separate integral discharge plug assemblyprojecting outwards from the side of said cap means defining a blindbore in said `assembly communicating with said bore in the cap, a closedend to said bore yand a thinned portion of said assembly and adjacentsaid closed end, (c) said assembly having an apertured diaphragm fordischarge therethrough of liquid in the form of a spray, (d) a wallintegral with the cap and forming the top of the latter, (e) saidtop-forming wall of the cap having an axial aperture therein, (f) a plugitted ixedly in the lower end of said bore in said cap, (g) said plughaving a vertical through bore, (h) a dished valve seat formed on saidplug and having a bore communicating with said vertical bore in saidplug, (i) said valve seat dening with said cap a chamber communicatingwith said discharge plug assembly, (j) a resilient valve member ofdisk-like conguration formed separately from said plug and cap andhaving dimensions greater than both the bore in Vthe valve seat and theaperture in said top-forming wall of the cap, (k) said valve memberbeing disposed within said chamber and closing said aperture in saidwall, (l) -a lug projecting outwardly from the side of said cap oppositeto said discharge plug assembly, (m) a lever pivoted to said lug at aposition remote from said valve member, (n) a boss integral with saidlever and projecting through said aperture, (o) said boss, valve memberand valve seat being in alignment and (p) the lever being biassed sothat said boss applies pressure to the valve member to press the Valvemember against the said dished valve seat to close the bore therein, butbeing capable of being pivoted against such biassing to move said endout of con-tact with said valve member to release the pressure on thelatter.

4. A container for liquid under pressure, such container being of agenerally cylindrical form and having its top dened by an atomisingdischarge valve comprising:l (a) a cap having a vertical bore therein,(b) a separate discharge plug assembly projecting laterally outwardlyfrom the side of the cap, means defining a blind bore in said assemblyand communicating with said bore in said cap, a closed end to said boreand a thinned portion of said assembly adjacent said closed end, (c)said assembly having an apertured diaphragm for discharge therethroughof liquid in the `form of a spray, (d) a wall integral with said cap andforming the top of the latter, (e) said top forming wall of the caphavingan axial aperture therein, (t) a plug tted xedly in the lower endof said bore, (g) said plug having a vertical bore extending completelytherethrough, (h) a recessed portion at the lower end of said plugcommunicating with said vertical central bore, (i) a tube fitting intosaid recess and extending downwardly into said container, (j) a dishedvalve seat formed in said plug and having a bore communicating with saidVertical bore in said plug, (k) said valve seat dening with said cap achamber 'communicating with said discharge plug assembly, (l) aresilient valve member of disk-like conguration formed separately fromsaid plug and cap, and -having dimensions greater than both the bore inthe valve seat and the aperture in said topforming wall of the cap, (m)said Valve member being disposed within said chamber and closing saidaperture in said wall, (n) a lug projecting outwardly from the side ofsaid cap opposite to said discharge plug assembly, (o) a lever pivotedto said lug at a position remote from said valve member, (p) a bossintegral with said lever and projecting through said aperture, (q) saidboss, valve member and valve seat being in alignment and (r) the2,586,575 2/ 1952 Smye 169-31 lever being biassed so that said bossapplies pressure t0 2,772,744 12/1956 Beadet 169 31 the valve member topress the valve member agalnst the 2,982,448 5/1961 Leonard et al. 222153 said dished valve seat to close the bore therein, but being capableof being pivoted against such biassing to move 5 said end out of Contactwith said valve member to release the pressure on the latter. FOREIGNPATENTS 627,709 8/ 1927 France. 100,706 1/ 1941 Sweden.

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner.

3,085,720 4/1963 BDCh et al.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 2,530,58311/1950 Nurkiewicz 169-31

1. AN ATOMISING DISCHARGE THE VALVE COMPRISING: (A) A CAP HAVING A BORETHEREIN, (B) A DISCHARGE PLUG ASSEMBLY PROJECTING LATERALLY OUTWARDLYFROM THE SIDE OF SAID CAP AND COMMUNICATING WITH THE UPPER END OF SAIDBORE IN THE CAP ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A HOLLOW BODY, TWO OPPOSITE ENDS TOSAID BODY, A DISCHARGE NOZZLE AT ONE SAID END OF SAID BODY AND ADELIVERY REGULATING APERTURED DIAPHRAGM AT THE OTHER SAID END, SAIDOTHER END BEING SECURABLE TO SAID CAP, (C) A WALL INTEGRAL WITH SAID CAPAND FORMING THE TOP OF THE LATTER, (D) SAID WALL HAVING AN AXIALAPERTURE THEREIN, (E) A PLUG FITTED FIXEDLY IN THE LOWER END OF SAIDBORE IN THE CAP SO AS TO BE SPACED BELOW SAID TOP-FORMING WALL OF THECAP, (F) SAID PLUG HAVING A VERTICAL CENTRAL BORE EXTENDING COMPLETELYTHERETHROUGH, (G) A VALVE SEAT ON SAID PLUG AT THE UPPER END THEREOF ANDHAVING A BORE COMMUNICATING WITH THE BORE IN SAID PLUG, (H) A RESILIENTVALVE MEMBER OF DISKLIKE CONFIGURATION FORMED SEPARATELY FROM SAID CAPAND PLUG AND DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID TOP FORMING WALL OF THE